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Signs & Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection in Kids

Normally, human urine contains no harmful bacteria or viruses. However, there are times when bacteria enter the urinary tract and cause infection, known commonly as a UTI or "urinary tract infection." While most adults are able to identify a UTI because of past experience or second-hand knowledge, children are often not able to communicate their symptoms. There are times when only the signs, what can be measured or perceived, are the only indicators of a pediatric UTI.

  1. Polyuria

    • Polyuria, the voiding of abnormally large amounts of urine, is one common sign of a urinary tract infection. This is because increasing the urine flow is the body's means of flushing out the invading organisms. A child who keeps urinating in large amounts should be evaluated by a health care provider and be given enough fluids to prevent dehydration.

    Fever

    • Most infections cause a fever, since fevers are the result of the chemicals released by white blood cells combating the infection. Despite the benefits of the mobilized white blood cells, uncontrolled fevers may have harmful effects on children. These effects include inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and disruption in the functions of the internal organs. A child with a fever should be evaluated for an infection and treated with fever reducers to prevent organ damage.

    Hematuria

    • Hematuria, the passing of blood in the urine, should be considered a very serious sign of not only a UTI but any number of conditions of the urinary tract and the kidneys. Besides a UTI, conditions like kidney stones and malignancies may cause hematuria. A child with hematuria must be taken to a health care provider as soon as possible.

    Older Children

    • Children who are older and can verbalize their symptoms may be able to give their caretakers better information about what they are feeling. Symptoms of a UTI include painful urination (dysuria), pelvic pain, and, when the infection reaches deep to the kidneys, lower back pain. Itching, burning, and discharge (pus) are not uncommon in UTIs.

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